2000 Football League play-offs
| Season | 1999–2000 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Ipswich Town (First Division) Gillingham (Second Division) Peterborough United (Third Division) |
| Matches played | 15 |
| Goals scored | 49 (3.27 per match) |
| Biggest home win | Peterborough 3–0 Barnet (Third Division) |
| Biggest away win | Birmingham 0–4 Barnsley (First Division) |
| Highest scoring | Ipswich 5–3 Bolton (8 goals) |
| Highest attendance | 73,427 – Barnsley v Ipswich (First Division final) |
| Lowest attendance | 4,535 – Barnet v Peterborough (Third Division semi-final) |
| Average attendance | 22,266 |
← 1999 → | |
The
Background
The Football League play-offs have been held every year since 1987. They take place for each division following the conclusion of the regular season and are contested by the four clubs finishing below the automatic promotion places.
In the First Division, Ipswich Town, who are aiming to return to the top flight after 5 years outside the top flight, finished 2 points behind second placed Manchester City, who in turn finished 2 points behind champions Charlton Athletic, who returned to the top flight after being relegated last season. Barnsley who are aiming to return to the top flight after 2 seasons outside the top division, finished in fourth place in the table. Birmingham City, who are aiming to return to the top flight after 14 years outside the top division, finished in fifth place. Bolton Wanderers, who as well as Barnsley are aiming to return to the top flight after relegation 2 seasons ago, finished 1 point behind Birmingham City in sixth place.
First Division
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Ipswich Town | 46 | 25 | 12 | 9 | 71 | 42 | +29 | 87 |
| 4 | Barnsley | 46 | 24 | 10 | 12 | 88 | 67 | +21 | 82 |
| 5 | Birmingham City | 46 | 22 | 11 | 13 | 65 | 44 | +21 | 77 |
| 6 | Bolton Wanderers | 46 | 21 | 13 | 12 | 69 | 50 | +19 | 76 |
Semi-finals
- First leg
| Birmingham City | 0–4 | Barnsley |
|---|---|---|
| Report | Shipperley  12' Dyer 48', 60' Hignett 84' |
| Bolton Wanderers | 2–2 | Ipswich Town |
|---|---|---|
| Holdsworth 5' Guðjohnsen 26' |
Report | Stewart 36', 65' |
- Second leg
| Ipswich Town | 5–3 (a.e.t.) | Bolton Wanderers |
|---|---|---|
| Magilton 18' (pen.), 49', 90' Clapham 94' (pen.) Reuser 110' |
Report | Holdsworth 6', 39' Johnston 50' |
Ipswich Town won 7–5 on aggregate.
| Barnsley | 1–2 | Birmingham City |
|---|---|---|
| Dyer 54' |
Report | Marcelo 75' |
Barnsley won 5–2 on aggregate.
Final
| Barnsley | 2–4 | Ipswich Town |
|---|---|---|
| Wright 6' (o.g.) Hignett 78' (pen.) |
Report | Mowbray 28' Naylor 52' Stewart 58' Reuser 90' |
Second Division
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Gillingham | 46 | 25 | 10 | 11 | 79 | 48 | +31 | 85 |
| 4 | Wigan Athletic | 46 | 22 | 17 | 7 | 72 | 38 | +34 | 83 |
| 5 | Millwall | 46 | 23 | 13 | 10 | 76 | 50 | +26 | 82 |
| 6 | Stoke City | 46 | 23 | 13 | 10 | 68 | 42 | +26 | 82 |
Semi-finals
- First leg
| Stoke City | 3–2 | Gillingham |
|---|---|---|
| Gunnlaugsson 1' Lightbourne 8'Thorne 67' |
Report | Gooden 18' Hassenthaler 90' |
- Second leg
| Gillingham | 3–0 (a.e.t.) | Stoke City |
|---|---|---|
Smith 118' |
Report |
Gillingham won 5–3 on aggregate.
| Wigan Athletic | 1–0 | Millwall |
|---|---|---|
| Sheridan 61' |
Wigan Athletic won 1–0 on aggregate.
Final
| Wigan Athletic | 2–3 (a.e.t.) | Gillingham |
|---|---|---|
| Haworth 59' Barlow 99' (pen.) |
Report | McGibbon 35' (o.g.) Butler 114'Thomson 118' |
Third Division
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Darlington | 46 | 21 | 16 | 9 | 66 | 36 | +30 | 79 |
| 5 | Peterborough United | 46 | 22 | 12 | 12 | 63 | 54 | +9 | 78 |
| 6 | Barnet | 46 | 21 | 12 | 13 | 59 | 53 | +6 | 75 |
| 7 | Hartlepool United | 46 | 21 | 9 | 16 | 60 | 49 | +11 | 72 |
Semi-finals
- First leg
| Barnet | 1–2 | Peterborough United |
|---|---|---|
| Arber 22' |
Lee 5' Clarke 68' |
| Hartlepool United | 0–2 | Darlington |
|---|---|---|
| Liddle 35' Gabbiadini 76' (pen.) |
- Second leg
| Darlington | 1–0 | Hartlepool United |
|---|---|---|
| Strodder 9' (o.g.) |
Darlington won 3–0 on aggregate.
| Peterborough United | 3–0 | Barnet |
|---|---|---|
Farrell 28', 70', 89' |
Peterborough United won 5–1 on aggregate.
Final
External links